Khaled Al Batsh, one of the leaders of the Islamic Jihad movement, in the Gaza Strip, said that resistance is against the occupation, and its crimes, and does not depend on the presence or absence of the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon.

"What happened to Sharon, the man who carried Sabra and Shatella massacres, and Jenin massacre, is an act of God who wanted to free the world from the crimes of this man", Al Batsh stated, "God gave our people further means which made Sharon unable to counter the homemade shells, and made him unable to exterminate our resistance, and people".
 
Also, Al Batsh added that the American government, and "other allies of Sharon", who always saved him and covered his acts, will not be able to save him now.    
 
In a separate incident, Mohammad Al Hindi, on of the political leaders of the Islamic Jihad, said that chaos and insecurity in the Palestinian areas is a very serious threat to the Palestinian people, and the security of the residents.
 
The movement condemned the latest escalation on the borders with Egypt which left two Egyptian border policemen dead, and resulted in dozens of injuries among the Palestinians and Egyptians.  
 
Mosheer Al Masry, Hamas spokesperson described what happened in Rafah as "part of the serious deterioration and lawlessness in the Palestinian territories, especially when it affects a neighboring country at this time".
 
Al Masri warned against attempts aiming to drag Hamas into a "bloody confrontation."
 
Several Palestinian factions condemned the latest escalation and violent activities, and extended their condolences to the families of the killed Egyptian soldiers.